Giving Campaign

rick.savage • November 28, 2023

Dear Wetland Supporters,


This is a very important time of the year for the Carolina Wetlands Association; It is our Annual Giving Campaign. It is a time when we need every one of you to show your support for your organization by giving

financially to the Association. We need your donations more than ever.


It has been a difficult year for wetlands protection. The US Supreme Court with its Sackett ruling greatly reduced wetland protection; about 60% of our wetlands lost their protection. While SC has some leverage to pass state laws or local ordinances to protect wetlands, NC has none of these options since state law prohibits wetland protection beyond the federal level.  This action is really difficult to comprehend given the state is poring tens of millions of dollars to use nature-based solutions (i.e., wetlands) to protect our communities and provide flood control. 


The Carolina Wetlands Association is doing its best to work with other organizations to find ways to protect wetlands. We have been in a lot of meetings to brainstorm actions that we can take, working the EPA, the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as well as a dozen other nonprofit organizations. We are also considering application of the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act as possible avenues.


On the bright side, the Carolina Wetlands Association has received new grants to facilitate wetland restoration projects in Pitt County (NC); to restore wetlands and reduce flooding of the Lumbee tribe's cultural center and downstream communities (Robeson County, NC); and to learn about flooding based on traditional ecological knowledge and reduce flooding of a Gullah-Geechee community (Bucksport, SC).


All of these efforts are helping preserve and restore wetlands providing community resilience and many other benefits other than flood control, such as clean water, recreation and education, stormwater protection, and much more. We need your help because we use our general funds to work with other organizations to protect and promote wetlands and support staff in all phases of the organization. Our staff is working hard for you to protect our wetlands. Please give generously!


So, go explore a wetland and know that your generosity is helping to protect it.

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